Extendable dipper-stick

ABSTRACT

An extendable dipper-stick adapted to be attached to ordinary backhoe equipment, which dipper-stick includes an extension member slidingly received within an outer, hollow, elongated support bar, with the said member thereof being extended or retracted relative to said support bar by hydraulic means contained within said support bar; and means attached to the exposed end of said member so as to connect said end to a conventional backhoe bucket.

United States Patent Inventor Morton A. Wilson Dec. 7, 1970 Nov. 30, 1971 Appl. No. Filed Patented EXTENDABLE DIPPERSTICK 6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

u.s. c1

Int. Cl

Field of Search References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,140,000 7/1964 Pilch' 6956 Wystone Ave., Resedl, Calif. 91335 3,292,800 12/1966 Jeremiasen 3,445,015 5/1969 Sampoetal......

Primary Examiner-- Philip Arnold AttorneyBernard M. Smukler ABSTRACT: An extendable dipper-stick adapted to be at tached to ordinary backhoe equipment, which dipper-stick includes an extension member slidingly received within an outer, hollow, elongated support bar, with the said member thereof being extended or retracted relative to said support bar by hydraulic means contained within said support bar; and means attached to the exposed end of said member so as to connect said end to a conventional backhoe bucket.

PAIENTEnunv 30 Ian SHEET 2 [IF 2 w. w W

MORTON A. WILSON 4 TTOR/VEV EXTENDABLE DIPPER-STICK This invention relates in general to earth excavating devices, and more particularly to hydraulically maneuverable and operable backhoe equipment having an extendable dipper-stick attachment thereon, with the entire apparatus adapted for use in conjunction with conventional mechanized transport means. In operation, the said equipment, among other things, excavates or scoops up in a backhoe bucket from the trench created thereby various earth materials and discharges or dumps same into a truck or other storage area.

In the expanding land development and construction industries of today, it is often necessary and desired to quickly and easily excavate various materials from the earth or form tunnels in the earth so that utility pipes or other such improvements may be placed therein. As will hereafter become apparent, there are many other uses for such equipment. In any event, various excavating devices, including both manual and mechanical attachments to vehicular or transport means, have been employed in the past for digging, lifting, swinging and dumping work. However, utilization of manual devices has resulted in a poor quality of trenching, in addition to being a slow, tedious and expensive operation. This apparently follows from the general physical limitations inherent in a human being whenever required to directly perform heavy work, such as in the construction industry.

When certain mechanical excavating devices have been attached to vehicular or transport means, including conventional construction tractors, a good quality of trenching has resulted with a considerable saving of time, human energy and money. However, several disadvantages are now apparent from such use which limit greater utilization of such equipment. The devices include a maneuverable boom member which is ordinarily attached to said transport means and carries a dipper-stick which supports at one end thereof an openmouth backhoe digging bucket. Until very recently the combined length of the dipper-stick and bucket was restricted so as not to exceed the length of the boom member. Otherwise, a portion of the combination of dipper-stick and bucket would of necessity trail upon the ground causing damage thereto. If the dipper-stick was connected to said boom member in an area other than at one end thereof, a T-shaped or hook" configuration would result. With such a configuration, it would be possible for the combined length of the dipper-stick and bucket to exceed the length of the boom member. However, operation of the device would be limited because of the greater likelihood that said "T-shaped" or hook would become caught along the sides of the excavation or trench. As a result, there are now several so-called extendable dippersticks available for use, all of which given an effective increase in length beyond the combination of said dipper-stick and bucket. Unfortunately, because of certain physical requirements, said dippersticks are still not capable of extending to any substantial length. Further, it has been found that many such dipper-sticks cannot withstand the great stresses placed thereon while they are fully loaded and in an extended position, so that many have structurally failed. Finally, it has heretofore been impossible to keep the inner portion of such dipper-sticks free of the usual dirt and other debris inherent in such work so that repairs are continuously required. Such prior art devices have therefore resulted in damage to the dipper-stick and boom member without accomplishing the primary purpose of substantially increasing the depth capacity of mechanized backhoe equipment any desired length.

It is, therefore, the primary purpose and object of the present invention to provide continuous action hydraulically operated backhoe equipment for use with conventional vehicular or transport means, said equipment being capable of digging at greater depths then heretofore accomplished.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an extendable dipper-stick attachment to ordinary backhoe equipment, without the necessity of increasing the length of the boom member thereof and/or without creating a T-shaped or hook" configuration and/or without causing any portion of the backhoe equipment, including the dipper-stick and bucket, to trail upon the ground because of their excessive combined length.

Another object of the present invention is to provide extendable backhoe equipment adapted for attachment to conventional vehicular or transport means which can be easily moved into the desired position and speedily dig more feet of trench than heretofore known and efficiently swing and dump earth material from the trench or excavation created thereby.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide backhoe equipment which can be easily placed within or withdrawn from narrowly dimensioned trenches or excavations and which can be operated in a proper manner therein.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a dipper-stick which can be extended to any desired length without the necessity of unduly increasing the size of the attendant boom member.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a dipper-stick as set forth above, wherein the interior thereof may be sealed so as to prevent dirt or other debris from entering therein or coming in contact therewith.

Other and additional objectives and advantages of the present invention are to provide a strong and durable extendable dipper-stick attachment which may be operated without fail in its fully extended position and with a full load; that said attachment be of maximum simplicity and efi'icieney combined with safety, economy of manufacture and ease of operation; and such other objectives, advantages and capabilities will be readily apparent and better understood by referring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the backhoe including the present invention, together with an ordinary backhoe bucket, all secured to conventional tractor means;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the dipper stick device taken along line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the dipperstick device taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of many of the parts comprising the said dipper-stick, which parts have been separated from each other so as to better illustrate their respective functions.

Referring to the drawing of the invention in detail, a maneuverable steel boom member 10 is shown in FIG. 1 as pivotally connected at one end thereof at point A to conventional mechanized transport means or tractor II. A maneuverable and modified dipper-stick housing 12 is pivotally connected at one of its ends at point B to the other end of the said boom member 10, and a conventional steel bucket 13 is pivotally connected by linkage means 14 and 14a and dipper-stick extension member l5, among other parts, to the other end of said dipper-stick housing 12.

Flat triangularly shaped metal frames 16 and 16a are weldably affixed to each side of the said boom member 10 in parallel fashion as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawing, and the entire combination of boom member 10 and frames 16 and 16a is pivotally connected at point A to the said transport means II. The said boom member 10 is maneuverable in its vertical plane by means of a hydraulically operated cylinder (not shown) and its associated boom actuating rod (also not shown).

As may be appreciated by viewing FIGS. I, 3 and 4 of the drawing, flat flanging metal side plates 17 and 17a, each having an irregular configuration thereto, are weldably affixed to each side of the modified dipper-stick housing 12 and as a result thereof the entire combination of side plates 17 and 17a, dipper-stick housing 12, dipper-stick extension member 15 and bucket 13 is pivotally connected to and supported by the said boom member 10 at point B by pinion means 18. A hydraulically operated cylinder 19 and its associated dipperstick actuating rod 20 are pivotally connected at their lower end to the forward common corners of the said frames 16 and 16a, and pivotally attached by their other end to said sideplates l7 and by pinion means 21. In such a manner, the said dipper-stick housing 12 and dipper-stick extension 15 may be rotated in their vertical plane about said pinion means 18.

As may be appreciated by viewing FIG. 3 of the drawing, a hydraulically operated cylinder 22 and its associated extension member actuating rod 23 are pivotally connected at one end to the upper said sideplates 17 and 17a by pinion means 24, and pivotally attached at their other end to the inner vertical sides of the said extension member by pinion means 25. A U-shaped top member 26 is shown in FIG. 4 of the drawing and is adapted to fit snugly over said dipper-stick housing 12. Longitudinally disposed wear bars, 27 and 27a, are provided at the ear portions of said top member 26 along the length thereof, and said bars 27 and 27a are inverted inwardly so that they face each other in substantially parallel fashion. Each of said bars, 27 and 27a, are weldably attached to said ears of said top member 26. The said dipper-stick housing 12 has a longitudinal guide bar, 28 and 28a, weldably affixed to each side thereof, and said top portion '26 is adapted to slidingly engage the said dipper-stick housing 12 upon contact of said wear bars 27 and 27a with said guide bars 28 and 28a, respectively. It may thus be seen that the said guide bars 28 and 28a may be as long as the said dipper-stick housing 12, which in turn may be designed as long as necessary to completely excavate a particular job.

Flat triangularly shaped metal holding plates, 29 and 29a, are weldably afiixed to the top of said member 26, and are spaced sufficiently apart so as to accommodate therebetween by pinion means 32 one end of a hydraulically operated cylinder 30 and its associated bucket actuating rod 31. The other end of said cylinder 30 and rod 31 is pivotally attached by pinion means 34 and bar 35 to said bucket 13. As indicated above, the said bucket 13 is pivotally attached to the exposed end of said dipper-stick extension 15 by means of lengths 33 and 33a. Consequently, said bucket 13 may be rotated in its vertical plane by means of extending or retracting said rod 31.

It may now be appreciated that the said extension member 15 is adapted to slide within the said hollow dipper-stick housing 12 every time the said cylinder 22 and its associated rod 23 are actuated. lt may also be seen that the said top member 26 is connected at one thereof to said extension member 15 by means of screws 36 and spacer plate 37 which is disposed therebetween. As a result, whenever said cylinder 22 and rod 23 actuate said extension member 15 so that same extends or retracts, the said top member 26 likewise moves forward or rearward relative to said dipper-stick housing 12. Likewise, the cylinder 30 and its associated bucket actuating rod 31, which are connected as aforesaid by said linkage 14 and 14a to said dipper-stick extension 15, are adapted to move coincidentally with said top member 26, regardless of the particular direction of travel. As a result, the said bucket 13 merely rides along with the movement of said extension member 15, and does not need to be actuated by said cylinder 30 and rod 31 until the operator of the transport means 11 desires to commence excavation.

As may be appreciated by viewing FIG. 4 of the drawing, a square wear plate, 38a, 38b, 38c and 38d, is fastened one to each side of said dipper-stick housing 12 at the far end thereof. Further, similar wear plates 39a, 39b, 39c and 39d are fastened one to each side of said extension member 15 at the inserted end thereof. Since the said wear bars 27 and 27a do not extend for the entire length of said top member 26, but only for a short portion thereof commencing as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawing, contact between the edges of said bars 27 and 27a with said plates 38b and 38d effectively prevents further forward motion or extension of said extension member 15 relative to said dipper-stick housing 12. Said wear plates 39a, 39b, 39c and 39d merely permit easy sliding of said extension member 15 within said dipper-stick housing 12. Finally, a wear plate 40 is weldably attached to the under side of said top member 26 at one end thereof adjacent said end B. The length of said wear plate 40 along the longitudinal axis of said member 26 is the same as that for said wear bars 27 and 27a. As a result, the edge of said wear plate 40, upon contact with the edge of wear plate 38a, provides additional means for stopping further forward motion or extension of said extension member 15 relative to said dipper-stick housing 12.

In operation, the transport means 11 is moved to and positioned over the region to be excavated or tunneled, and the operator thereof then approximately sets the boom member 10 over the designated area. If the required depth is within the capability of the dipper-stick housing 12 alone, without any extension thereof being required, the operator simply excavates or tunnels the earth by means of manipulating the boom 10 by its hydraulic cylinder and associated boom actuating rod (not shown), the dipper-stick housing 12 by its hydraulic cylinder 19 and associated dipper-stick housing actuating rod 20 and the bucket 13 by its hydraulic cylinder 30 and associated bucket actuating rod 31. If greater depth to the excavation or tunnel is necessary, or if the same must be extended in length without moving the transport means 10 to a new position, the operator would utilize the extension member 15 as hereinabove described. Thus, the dipper-stick housing 12, together with the dipper-stick extension member 15, provide a source of substantial additional length for ordinary I backhoe equipment. Of course, the bucket 13 is operable by the said cylinder 30 and rod 31 regardless of whether or not the extension member 15 is being utilized. Any backhoe equipment having conventional dipper-sticks may be modified so as to incorporate the present invention. As may be seen, its use results in a substantial increase in the effective excavating depth of such equipment.

As may now be appreciated, the entire dipper-stick apparatus is sealed so that dirt and various other debris cannot enter the interior thereof. Further, due to the unique construction of the said invention, any tendency towards wobble, angular displacement or capsizing of said extension member 15 is eliminated. Finally, in the event additional strength is desired, flat steel bars 41 and 41a may be weldably attached in a vertical manner to the ears of said member 26, all as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawing. A U-shaped steel strap 42, adapted to slidingly engage the said dipper-stick housing 12, is adapted to become removably affixed to said bars 41. As a result, this embodiment provides additional strength to the said extension member 15 and top member 26 so as to prevent structural failure in the event of a full load within said bucket 13 when said apparatus is in a substantially extended position.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be expressly understood that the present invention is not intended to be restricted to any particular construction or arrangement, or the specific embodiments disclosed herein, or any specific method of operation of use, since the same way may be modified in various particulars or relations without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention hereinabove shown and described of which the embodiments shown are intended only for illustration and for disclosure of an operative embodiment, and not to show all of the various forms or modifications in which the invention might be embodied.

lclaim:

1. A dipper-stick adapted to be attached to the boom member of backhoe equipment, said dipper-stick comprising: a rectangularly shaped hollow housing member connected at one end to the uppermost end of the said boom member; a rectangularly shaped hollow extension member adapted to be slidingly received within the said dipper-stick housing and to move forwardly and rearwardly therein along its longitudinal axis but with one end thereof always extended beyond the confines of said housing; a substantially U-shaped member adapted to slidingly engage the top portion of said dipper-stick housing and to move forwardly and rearwardly thereon relative thereto; means connecting said U-shaped member and said extension member so that they may move forwardly and rearwardly together; means within said extension member adapted to actuate said member and the said U-shaped member forwardly or rearwardly relative to said dipper-stick housing; a bucket adapted to be attached to the extended end of said extension member; and means attached to said U- shaped member and adapted to actuate the said bucket.

2. A dipper-stick adapted to be attached to the boom member of backhoe equipment, said dipper-stick comprising: a hollow elongated housing member having a flat bottom, top and sides, which member is adapted to be pivotally connected at one end to the uppermost end of said boom member; a guide bar provided along the length of each side of said housing member; a substantially U-shaped member adapted to slidingly engage the top portion of said dipper-stick housing; vertical and horizontally disposed wear bars attached to the interior portions of the ears of said U-shaped member adjacent the rearward edge thereof; the said vertically disposed wear bars being adapted to snugly engage their associated guide bars along the lowennost edges thereof; a hollow elongated extension member adapted to be slidingly received within said housing member, with one end thereof adapted to be extended beyond the confines of said housing member; means connecting the forward end of said U-shaped member to the said extended end of said extension member; bucket means; means adapted to connect said bucket to the said forward and extended ends of said top member and extension member respectively; means provided within said housing member and adapted to actuate said extension member in a forward or rearward direction; and means mounted on said U- shaped member and adapted to actuate said bucket.

3. The dipper-stick device as set forth in claim 1 above, wherein means are attached to the said U-shaped member and adapted to removably connect said top member to the bottom portion of said housing.

4. The dipper-stick device as set forth in claim 2 above, wherein means are attached to the said U-shaped member and adapted to removably connect said top member to the bottom portion of said housing.

5. A dipper-stick adapted to be attached at its rearward end to the boom member of backhoe equipment, said dipper-stick comprising: a hollow, elongated housing member having top, bottom and sides portions, but with the front and rear ends thereof open; means adapted to rotatably connect one end of said housing member to the uppermost end of said boom member; a hollow, elongated extension member having a substantially rectangular configuration but the front and rear ends thereof open; said extension member being adapted to be slidingly received within said housing member, but with one end thereof extended beyond the forward end of said housing member; a top member adapted to slidingly engage the top portion of said housing member, with the forward end of said top member extended beyond the forward end of said housing member; means connecting the extended end of said extension member to the forward end of said top member; wear plates attached to the interior top, bottom and side portions of said extension member and adjacent the rearward end thereof; guide bars provided along the length of said housing member and adapted to guide the forward or rearward movement of said top member relative thereto; means provided along the interior surfaces of said top member adjacent the rearward end thereof and adapted to slidingly engage said guide means; means provided adjacent the forward end of said housing member, the surfaces of said means being raised beyond the adjacent surfaces of said housing member; said means being adapted to restrict upon contact the forward movement of said top and extension members relative thereto; a bucket; means provided within said housing member adapted to actuate said extension member in a forward or rearward direction; and means provided on said top member adapted to rotatably actuate the bucket.

6. The dipper-stick device as set forth in claim 5 above, wherein means are attached to the said U-shaped member and adapted to removably connect said top member to the bottom portion of said housing. 

1. A dipper-stick adapted to be attached to the boom member of backhoe equipment, said dipper-stick comprising: a rectangularly shaped hollow housing member connected at one end to the uppermost end of the said boom member; a rectangularly shaped hollow extension member adapted to be slidingly received within the said dipper-stick housing and to move forwardly and rearwardly therein along its longitudinal axis but with one end thereof always extended beyond the confines of said housing; a substantially U-shaped member adapted to slidingly engage the top portion of said dipper-stick housing and to move forwardly and rearwardly thereon relative thereto; means connecting said Ushaped member and said extension member so that they may move forwardly and rearwardly together; means within said extension member adapted to actuate said member and the said U-shaped member forwardly or rearwardly relative to said dipper-stick housing; a bucket adapted to be attached to the extended end of said extension member; and means attached to said U-shaped member and adapted to actuate the said bucket.
 2. A dipper-stick adapted to be attached to the boom member of backhoe equipment, said dipper-stick comprising: a hollow elongated housing member having a flat bottom, top and sides, which member is adapted to be pivotally connected at one end to the uppermost end of said boom member; a guide bar provided along the length of each side of said housing member; a substantially U-shaped member adapted to slidingly engage the top portion of said dipper-stick housing; vertical and horizontally disposed wear bars attached to the interior portions of the ears of said U-shaped member adjacent the rearward edge thereof; the said vertically disposed wear bars being adapted to snugly engage their associated guide bars along the lowermost edges thereof; a hollow elongated extension member adapted to be slidingly received within said housing member, with one end thereof adapted to be extended beyond the confines of said housing member; means connecting the forward end of said U-shaped member to the said extended end of said extension member; bucket means; means adapted to connect said bucket to the said forward and extended ends of said top member and extension member respectively; means provided within said housing member and adapted to actuate said extension member in a forward or rearward direction; and means mounted on said U-shaped member and adapted to actuate said bucket.
 3. The dipper-stick device as set forth in claim 1 above, wherein means are attached to the said U-shaped member and adapted to removably connect said top member to the bottom portion of said housing.
 4. The dipper-stick device as set forth in claim 2 above, wherein means are attached to the said U-shaped member and adapted to removably connect said top member to the bottom portion of said housing.
 5. A dipper-stick adapted to be attached at its rearward end to the boom member of backhoe equipment, said dipper-stick comprising: a hollow, elongated housing member having top, bottom and sides portions, but with the front and rear ends thereof open; means adapted to rotatably connect one end of said housing member to the uppermost end of said boom member; a hollow, elongated extension member having a substantially rectangular configuration but the front and rear ends thereof open; said extension member being adapted to be slidingly received within said housing member, but with one end thereof extended beyond the forward end of said housing member; a top member adapted to slidingly engage the top portion of said housing member, with the forward end of said top member extended beyond the forward end of said housing member; means connecting the extended end of said extension member to the forward end of said top member; wear plates attached to the interior top, bottom and side portions of said extension member and adjacent the rearward end thereof; guide bars provided along the length of said housing member and adapted to guide the forward or rearward movement of said top member relative thereto; means provided along the interior surfaces of said top member adjacent the rearward end thereof and adapted to slidingly engage said guide means; means provided adjacent the forward end of said housing member, the surfaces of said means being raised beyond the adjacent surfaces of said housing member; said means being adapted to restrict upon contact the forward movement of said top and extension members relative thereto; a bucket; means provided within said housing member adapted to actuate said extension member in a forward or rearward direction; and means provided on said top member adapted to rotatably actuate the bucket.
 6. The dipper-stick device as set forth in claim 5 above, wherein means are attached to the said U-shaped member and adapted to removably connect said top member to the bottom portion of said housing. 